After losing three matches in a row, including one to the Spanners, Bristol City are looking forward to collecting three points in what is seen as a winnable match this afternoon: Bristol City line up
Charlton have never lost consecutive home league matches against Bristol City, having lost 1-0 against them the last time they met back in February 2016. Bristol City are looking to complete a league double over Charlton for the first time since the 2008-09 campaign.
Charlton are without a win in their past 11 league games (D4 L7), drawing each of the past two games. The Addicks last drew three in a row in league competition in September 2016. Bristol City have lost their past four away league matches on Boxing Day since a 4-2 win at Watford in 2008. Away from home this season they have won five, drawn four and d lost two, a better record than they have had at home.
Since the start of last season, Lyle Taylor has been directly involved in 40 league goals (28 goals, 12 assists) - 12 more than any other Charlton player.
The city of Bristol and football
The city of Bristol has generally punched below its weight in football, having two teams in a rugby playing area. I have two friends who are Gasheads. One offered me a lift to a game when Charlton were playing there, but I am glad I didn't take it. We beat them 5-1 and he said he would have left me in Bristol. Knowing him, I can believe it. He had an interesting footballing style of standing still and shouting 'far post'.
Bristol City have been given a big boost by the involvement of Guernsey based billionaire Steve Lansdown. He is not just investing in football, but a whole range of sports. I have to declare an interest: I am client of his funds and share supermarket Hargreaves Lansdown. They have done very well for me (and for the taxman), and I have been able to open my own branch of the Bank of Grandad, giving one of my granddaughters a Christmas present of a substantial deposit on her own home. I wish someone had done that for me at age 18, but then I didn't have to work in a challenging caring role as she did yesterday on Christmas Day.
That said, there has been a bit of tension between Robins fans and Addicks in the past. In his first book, Garry Nelson recalls an awkward encounter with a group of their fans on Charlton Station after a match. However, no doubt a festive spirit will prevail today.
Cloud of gloom over the Isle of Thanet
Voice of the Valley will be on the sale at The Valley this afternoon or if you prefer not to be seen with a copy it can be bought online. I don't think it is too much of a spoiler to say that editor Rick Everitt seems to be in a relatively pessimistic mood, although no doubt he would prefer the terms 'balanced' and 'realistic.'
In a review of recent games under the heading 'Addicks slide into trouble', the one time Mercury sports editor does not pull his punches. He says that the injury problems 'cannot disguise the fact that the team has been on a wretched run of results. If not arrested in short order, it is likely to pitch it into a relegation battle that the budget on which it was constructed always made likely.'
Drawing on 50 often painful years of watching Charlton, the Ramsgate-based fan says: 'When a team hits a losing streak it's always tempting to unpick the team selection tactics, substitutions or focus on individual mistakes. But the bigger picture is obvious.'
'Mistakes get made as confidence drains away ... This group and the manager need help. But can we rely on January to bring it?' I don't feel much more hopeful than when I prayed yesterday for Her Majesty's Government and social justice.
It has to be said that the Rickster has a bit of a track record in being pessimistic. I haven't been able to fact check this yet, but towards the end of one Championship season he forecast relegation. He anticipated defeat by the Super Hoops but we beat them 1-0, surviving by the skin of our teeth.
Acworth is of royal descent
Leading Charlton fan Jonathan Acworth-Waldegrave (as he is now styled) has asked me to inform Charlton fans that it has been confirmed that he is a direct descendant of Henry the Eighth who is his 15th grandfather. Apparently one of his key ancestors was John St. John. Wasn't he a striker somewhere?
Just as well that Roland didn't to ahead with his plan to rename the East Stand as the Anne Boleyn Stand, even though the renaming ceremony would have given Acworth a starring role: Anne Boleyn
With potential new owners from the Gulf, it might help if we were able to identify all fans of royal descent who could then be given a special seating area. However, we would have to exclude those descended from illegitimate royal children as there are simply too many of them, although it is thought that there may be even more at Millwall.
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